Iberis Plant Named &#39;Floribmobi&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Iberis  plant named ‘Floribmobi’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low vigor, and compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/392,271 filed May 25, 2016.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Iberis sempervirens.

Variety denomination: ‘Floribmobi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Iberisplant botanically known as Iberis sempervirens and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Floribmobi’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inQuedlinburg, Germany during April 2013. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development Iberis cultivars that flower early in theseason and have a compact-mounded growth habit.

The new Iberis cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Iberis sempervirensbreeding selection coded 11420-2, not patented, characterized by itswhite-colored flowers, light green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of thenew cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected asa single flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedopen-pollination during April 2014 in a controlled environment inQuedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceApril 2014 in Quedlinburg, Germany and Elburn, Ill. has demonstratedthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Floribmobi’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Iberis plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;    -   3. Low vigor; and    -   4. Compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having darker green-colored leaves and a more compactgrowth habit.

Of the many commercially available Iberis cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is ‘Fischbeck’, not patented. However, inside by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plantsof ‘Fischbeck’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar has a darker leaf color than        plants of ‘Fischbeck’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have less growth vigor than plants        of ‘Fischbeck’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Floribmobi’. Theplants were approximately 9-months old and grown in 17 cm containers ina poly-covered greenhouse in Amstelveen, The Netherlands. Plants weregiven one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Floribmobi’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of‘Floribmobi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in March 2017 under naturallight conditions in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The following descriptions and measurements describe 9-month old plantsproduced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditionscomparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grownutilizing a soilless growth medium in 17 cm containers in a poly-coveredgreenhouse in Amstelveen, The Netherlands. Plants were given one pinchat transplant. No supplemental heating or lighting was provided.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Iberis sempervirens cultivar Floribmobi.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Iberis sempervirens breeding            selection coded 11420-2, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 12 to 14 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42            days.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 24 weeks from a rooted            cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot, includes 6 to 7 weeks            vernalization period.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            low growth vigor, compact-mounded.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4a (−30° F. to −25° F.).        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 13.3 cm. Width: Approximately 26.4 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches            per plant: Approximately 150.        -   Branch.—Shape: Rounded and slightly ribbed. Strength:            Strong. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately            7.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of            young stems: 143C. Color of mature stems: 146B, stems become            woody 199B to 199C with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 18. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular or obtuse angle to stem.            Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base:            Attenuate, sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 1.7 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous, leathery. Color of upper and lower surfaces of            young foliage: 138A, venation indistinguishable. Color of            upper surface of mature foliage: NN137A, midvein of 146C,            other venation indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of            mature foliage: 137B, midvein 144B to 144C, other venation            indistinguishable.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Floribmobi’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from early spring through summer.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal corymb. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 150. Fragrance: Moderate, pungent.            Length or height: Approximately 3.0 cm. Width: Approximately            2.9 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per corymb:            Approximately 13.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 2.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B.-   Flower Description:    -   -   Type.—Small, asymmetrical cruciferous flowers with a pair of            two larger abaxial petals and a pair of two smaller adaxial            petals, freely flowering, not persistent, facing outwardly            to upright.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Globose. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Color: Sepal centers of 144A and            margins of 157D; petals of NN155C.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Cruciform lobes with claws surrounded by            calyx. Aspect: Facing upward and outward. Length:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Length of abaxial lobe:            Approximately 7.0 mm. Width of abaxial lobe: Approximately            5.0 mm. Length of adaxial lobe: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width            of adaxial lobe: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of claw of            abaxial petal: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of claw of            adaxial petal: Approximately 1.0 mm. Width of claws: Less            than 1.0 mm. Color of upper surface of lobe when first and            fully open: NN155D. Color of lower surface of lobe when            first and fully open: NN155D. Color of upper and lower            surfaces of claws: NN155D with a midvein of 145A.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, distinct. Shape: Ovate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Truncate. Length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture            of inner and outer surfaces: Glabrous. Color of inner and            outer surfaces: Centers of 143B and margins of 157D.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Less than            1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 6 per            flower. Stamen length: Approximately 3.0 mm, 1 pair slightly            shorter and inserted lower. Filament color: 145C. Anther            shape: Sagittate, dorsifixed. Anther color: 12B. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 4D. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity: 1 per flower, ovary superior, flattened orbicular.            Pistil length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma shape: Bifid.            Stigma color: 145C. Style length: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Style color: 143C. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Ovary color: 143C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Iberis has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Iberis plant named‘Floribmobi’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.